Valved closure for receptacles.



J. W. ESTES.

VALVBD GLOSURB FOR REGEPTAGLES.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 11,1909..v

Patented Jan. 17, 1911,

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FEED STAES FTNT SFFXGE.

JOHN W. ESTES, OF ATHENS, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. P. PARKS, OF MENA, ARKANSAS.

VALVED CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES.

To all whom vit may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN W. ESTES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of Howard, State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Valved Closures for Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in closures for cans, lamps, and like receptacles, and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed device whereby the evaporation of the contents of the vessel may be effectually prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having a yieldably supported valve adapted to be opened when the can is to be filled or the contents removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device including a pouring spout which is adapted to be coupled to or uncoupled from the device and wherein provision is made for automatically opening the valve when the spout is attached and closing the valve when the spout is detached.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the improved device applied to a can or like receptacle. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device applied to a lamp. Fig. 4 is a side view of the pouring spout detached.

For the purpose of illustration the improved device is shown in Fig. 1, applied to a conventional can, a portion of which is represented at 10 and provided with the usual threaded inlet and discharge tube 11. Fitting over this tube 11 is a threaded cap or shell 12, the cap designed to hold the im* proved mechanism. While I have selected the threaded tube 11 and the correspondingly threaded cap or shell 12 as a means for illustrating the application of the improvement it will be understood that the in- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 11, 1969.

Patented Jan. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 501,598.

vention is not necessarily limited to these speciic structures, as the cap or shell may be attached to the can by any other suitable means.

Suspended from the upper closed end of the cap 12 is a tube 14 open at both ends, and preferably flanged at 15 above the shell to hold the tube in position, and likewise provided with a lateral flange 16 at the lower end. The tube will be rigidly con nected to the cap-by any suitable means, and is preferably internally threaded at the upper end as shown at 17. The flange 16 forms a valve seat, and bearing upon this seat from below is a plate valve 18, and connected to the valve is an operating stem 19 which leads alongside the tube 14 and extends through the top of the cap 12 and terminates in a push button.

Surrounding the tube 14 is a ring plate 20, and connected between this ring plate and the valve 18 is a plurality of rods 21. Surrounding the tube 14 between the rods 21 and the tube is a spring 22 operating between the plate 2O and the flange 16, thus maintaining the valve yieldably in its closed position. By this simple means the tube 14 is maintained normally closed by the valve, but the valve may be opened by downward pressure applied to the button on the stem 19, as will be obvious.

pouring spout forms a part of the improved device and is formed in two portions, a lower reduced portion 23, an upper laterally curving portion 24 and intermediate threaded portion 25, the threaded por tion adapted to engage the threads 17 of the tube 14, while the reduced portion 23 eX- tends through the tube and engages the valve and opens the same when coupled to the tube by its threaded portion. Thus when the pouring spout is applied the valve is automatically opened by the operation of attaching the spout. Then the improved device is applied to a lamp as shown in Fig. 3 the construction is substantially the same, and when the lamp is to be filled the pouring spout is applied to the can as before described and the terminal 24 inserted into the tube 14 of the device which is applied to the lamp and its free end utilized to force the valve open. By this means the act of filling the lamp causes the automatic opening of the valve so that the liquid flows int-o the lamp. `When the improved device is applied to a lamp the threaded tubular member 1l Will be arranged to depend into the lamp as shown, but this modification does not constitute a departure from the principle of the invention, as the operation and results produced are substantially the same Whether the threaded tubular member be arranged above the vessel or to depend therein.

The improved device Will be formed of metal, preferably brass or the like, and may be of any required size.

The improved device will be found of great advantage when employed in connection with oil cans used in the retail trade, as the pouring spout may be detached and retained. by the owner, and applied only when it is required to discharge portions of the contents of the can. By this means the danger of losing the spout or having it broken ott' by the rough handling to which devices of this character are subjected will be obviated.

The improved device Will be found very useful in connection with cans in which volatile liquids, such. as gasolene, alcohol and the like are shipped, as the contents will be protected from evaporation by the automatic yieldable closing valve.

lfihat is claimed is 1. A device of the class described coinprising a cap having means for attachment to a receptacle, a tube open at the ends and connected to said cap, a valve arranged to close said tube, means for yieldably niaintaining said valve in closed position, a spout, and means for supporting said spout Within said cap tube with one end engaging said *alve and holding it open.

2. A device of the class described comprising 'a cap having means for attachment to a receptacle, a tube open at the ends and connected to said cap and With a portion internally threaded, a valve arranged to close said tube, means for yieldably maintaining said valve in closed position a spout, having an intermediate threaded portion adapted to engage the threaded portion of the cap tube, whereby the valve is opened when the spout is coupled to the cap tube.

3. A device of the class described comprising a cap having means for attachment to a receptacle, a tube open at the ends and connected to said cap, and formed with a lateral flange at the inner end, a valve arranged to close said tube, a ring plate slidable upon said cap tube, rods between said ring plate and valve, and a spring between said ring plate and the flange of said cap tube, and a spout Within said. cap tube with one end engaging said valve and holding it open.

il. A device of the class described com prising a cap having means for attachment to a receptacle, a tube of less diameter than the cap and extending therethrough and open at the ends and connected to said cap, a valve arranged to close said tube, means for yieldably maintaining said valve in closed position, and a stein connected to said valve and leading through the cap and between the cap and the tube.

ln testimony whereof, a'IiiX my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN iV. ESTES.

lVitncsses C. E. YVILLIAMS, A. H. SooeGrN. 

